Summary

Planning Commission reviews housing design rules

Foster CityNov 7, 20253 min read

At a glance

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The Planning Commission reviewed draft objective design standards for single- and two-family homes and kept language requiring certain shopping center color changes to come back for Planning Commission review.

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Community Development

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Planning Commission

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CommerceHousing

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What this means

The main discussion was about new citywide rules meant to simplify design review and make permit decisions more consistent for single- and two-family homes. Commissioners also discussed whether shopping center paint color changes should still require public review; the majority agreed to keep that requirement. No public comments were made, and no new public hearings or new business items were taken up.

Key decisions

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Approved the October 2, 2025 regular meeting minutes by a 5-0 vote.
Kept the language that requires selected shopping center building color changes to be reviewed by the Planning Commission in a legally noticed public hearing.
Commissioner Stoveland withdrew his request to change the roof pitch language.

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Meeting information

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Planning Commission Regular Meeting

Nov 7, 2025, 3:00 AMREGULAR MEETING OF THE, FOSTER CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, 7:00 PM, Thursday, November 06, 2025completed

Agenda

OCTOBER 2, 2025 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
4.1.
Decision: 4 CONSENT CALENDAR All matters listed under this item are considered to be routine by the Planning Commission and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed below. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a citizen or a member of the Planning Commission so requests. If discussion is required, that item will be removed from the Consent Calendar and will be considered separately at the conclusion of the Consent Calendar. Vote may be by roll call.
SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY OBJECTIVE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS IS A CITYWIDE INITIATIVE TO MODERNIZE THE CITY’S DESIGN GUIDELINES, POLICIES, AND APPLICABLE ZONING CODE REGULATIONS INTO ONE COMPREHENSIVE ORDINANCE, AS WELL AS STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING PROCESS FOR THE HOMEOWNERS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY SESSION IS TO PROVIDE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE INPUT ON THE EDITS MADE TO DRAFT OF THE NEW CHAPTER 17.15 SINGLE-FAMILY AND TWO-FAMILY OBJECTIVE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, AND AMENDMENTS TO OTHER CHAPTERS OF THE FOSTER CITY MUNICIPAL CODE, INCLUDING CHAPTERS 17.04 DEFINITIONS; 17.12 R-1 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT; 17.14 R-2 TWO-FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT; CHAPTER 17.58 ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL AND SUPERVISION; AND 17.96 MULTIFAMILY AND RESIDENTIAL MIXED-USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. 1. Open Public Hearing 2. Staff Report 3. Discussion Project Planner: Sofia Mangalam, Community Development Director, 650-286-3239 or [email protected]
9.1.
Decision: 9 STUDY SESSION